gruson



(N'o Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- H. GRUSON. MORTAR AND GLOBULAR SHIELD FUR THE SAME.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' H. GRUSON.

MORTAR AND GLOBULAR SHIELD FOR THE SAME.

No. 299,218.` Patented May 27, 1884.

(No Model.) 3 She'ets-Sheet 3.

H. GRUSON.

MORTAR AND GLOBULAR SHIELD FOR THE SAME. N0. 299,218.` PatentedMay 27, 1884.

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MORTAR AND GLOBULAR SHIELD FOR THE SAME..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,218, dated May 27, 1884.

d l .Application tiled December 21, 1883. (No model.)

- mole or turret,within which the gunner stands,

or-within a similar opening formed in the deck or other part of a ship, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is arear view of one form of my invention, showing some parts of the device in elevation and others in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same device, showing the upper portion of the barrel and its casing in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 shows a modification in the construction of the spherical casing, it being in this instance formed in sections held together by suitable.

bolts. Fig. 5 is a section of the casing, taken through the axis of thc barrel, and showing another mode of securing said barrel in place. Fig. 6 is a rear View, and Fig. 7 a side view, of still another form of the device adapted for use on shipboard, the parts shown in elevation in one figure being shown in section in the other. Fig. 8 is a plan.

A may represent the top of a turret or the deck of a ship, which is provided with a circular opening of a sufficient size to permit the sphericalshell B to turn freely therein in any direction which may be necessary in order to bring it to the desired firing position.

The shell B and barrel may be either constructed of one piece of metal or formed indeand secured together in a number of ways, some of which will be hereinafter described.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 I have shown the shell and barrel constructed of a single piece of metal by iirst forming a sphere or globe and then boring it through from side to side, and then grooving or riiling it.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the barrel and casing formed separately and secured together by means of bars or pieces h, which surround the trunnions, introduced into the spherical casing. These bars or pieces are fastened in said casing by means of pins or cotters g.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the barrel held within the casing by means of a hoop or fiange formed or attached to its muzzle, and in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I have shown it secured by a kind of bayonet-j oint consisting of two or more lugs arranged at suitable intervals around the barrel, and complementary recesses formed in the opening in the shell, whereby the barrel may be inserted until the lugs formed thereon are entirely within the shell, and then partly revolved therein, so that said lugs will abut aga-inst the'inside of the shell, and thus hold the barrel. I do not, however, limit myself to any of these modes of arranging the barrel within the shell, as there are obviously many others which would accomplish the desired result equally well. I would also state that it is not necessary that the ends of the barrel should be ush with the surface of the spherical shell. It may, if desired, project out beyond the same, so that my improved shell may be used with the barrel of an ordinary weapon designed to be fired with more or less elevation.

The shell or casing is preferably made of chilled cast-iron, as a harder surface is thus obtained, which forms a sure protection against projectiles that may fall on it.

The mounting of the shell or casing and its contained barrel is effected as follows, to wit: On the lower part of the casing are formed two circular rails or ways,aa., one on each side ofthe axis of the barrel, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. The base or supporting frame or pillar is provided with corresponding rails or ways, I) b, on which the shell rests and moves through the medium of a series of anti-friction rollers, c, whose axles are coupled or linked together, as represented in Figs. 2 and 7 By this arrangement the shell and its contained barrel are adapted to be turned on an imaginary horizontal axis passing through said shell at right angles to the axis of the bore, whereby the desired inclination of the barrel for long or short range is accomplished. The

manipulation of the barrel in this direction and, together with the barrel, are

IOO

`when designed for this ordnance, rigidly may be effected by a simple lever, as represented at d in Figs. l and 2, or by a wormshaft gearing with worm-teeth on the shell, as represented in Figs. 6 and 7.

For revolving the barrel horizontally, the supporting base or pillar C is provided with means of rotation. This may be accomplished by a pivot, f, having a head formed with quadrangular sides, upon the broadest of which said pillar rests, as shown in Figs. l and 2, or by means of an annular series of anti-friction balls, 7c, placed between the under side of said base or pillar C, and an annular bearing-ring, Z, supported by a rigid frame, D, as represented in Figs. 6 and 7. This last-named device is best adapted for use on shipboard, and purpose is provided with a counterbalancing weight, G, which serves to keep the barrel constantly in a hori izontal position, notwithstanding the motion ofthe vessel, and also to take up the recoil and restore the gun to its normal position.

- When the weapon is not in use, the weight AGr is fastened by means of a bolt, Z, pushed into a recess otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A barrel for mortars or other pieces of secured within and completely closing an opening in a spherical or nearly spherical shell or casing w-hereby it is carried, in combination with suitable means for supporting said shell or easing, substanin the under side thereof, or

ltlally as and for the purpose Set forth.

2. A barrel for mortars or other pieces of ordnance, rigidly secured within and coinpletely closing an opening in a spherical or nearly spherical shell or casing, in combination with a covered place or turret for the gunner, having a circular opening, within which said shell lits and turns, as set forth.

3. A barrel for mortars, &c., located within a spherical or nearly spherical shell or casing, in combination with suitable means for turning said shell on an imaginary horizontal aXis drawn through it at right angles to the aXis of the borefas and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a barrel rigidly secured within and completely closing an opening in a spherical or nearly spherical shell or casing, of means for revolving said shell horizontally, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with a barrel rigidly secured' within a spherical or nearly spherical shell or casing, and means for turning said shell to change the inclination of the barrel,

of means for revolving said shell horizontally, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination,with a globular shell or casing carrying a barrel, and formed on its lower side with circular tracks or ways, and a supporting-base having corresponding tracks, of anti-friction rollers located between the tracks on the respective sides of the shell, as set forth.

7. The combination,with a globular shell or casing carrying a barrel, and formed on itsl lower side with circular tracks or ways, and a supporting-base having corresponding tracks, of a series of anti-friction rollers coupled together and located between the tracks on the respective sides of the shell, as set forth.

8. rllhe coinbinatiomwith the globular shell y or casing B, carryingthe barrel, and the bascpiece C, of the anti-friction balls k, annular bearing-ring Z, and support l), as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combinatiomwith the barrel of a gun, having a suitable carriage, of a universallyswinging weight depending therefrom, and a suitable frame for supporting said carriage, so Y constructed as to allow free lateral movement to said weight to compensate for the rolling of the vessel or to take up the recoil of the gun, or both, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the shell B, carrying the barrel, and the pillar C, having weight G depending therefrom, of the support D and anti-friction balls 7c, located between said support and the pillar C, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

HERMANN GRUSON.

Witnesses:

JULIUs voN ScHTz, .EMIL KALLNEGKER. 

